Connor Hellebuyck backstops Team USA to Olympic gold with a 41-save masterpiece against Canada, silencing doubters who questioned his big-game mettle. Legends like Mike Richter and Martin Brodeur rave about the Winnipeg Jets star's unreal stick save on Devon Toews and breakaways on McDavid and Celebrini that defined the overtime thriller. Vezina king now cements a legacy that elevates his Jets tenure amid whispers of what's next back in the NHL.

Martin Brodeur hails Connor Hellebuyck's masterclass in the Team USA gold win, cementing a legacy that echoes through goalie lore. Hall of Famers like Brodeur spot the intangibles - that unflappable poise under Olympic fire - from a mile away. Winnipeg's netminder returns with Vezina whispers louder than ever.

Martin St. Louis emerges as the steady hand Montreal desperately needs behind the bench. His system clicks while prospects dangle as prime trade chips in a rebuilding market. Kent Hughes weighs options that could accelerate the Canadiens' timeline amid deadline frenzy.

Spencer Martin stones the Belleville Senators for a shutout, giving the Rangers' depth netminder a timely boost amid the post-Olympic grind. Coaches love these kinds of statements from backups who seize their moments without fanfare. With the Rangers chasing the East's elite, Martin's glove and confidence could factor into rotation talks sooner than expected.

Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery runs his squad through intense line rushes at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, hinting at the combinations that could debut against the Flyers next week. With Olympians like Tom Wilson, Martin Fehervary, and Logan Thompson still chasing medals in Milano Cortina, placeholders such as Hendrix Lapierre and Declan Chisholm fill key spots while the team shakes off two weeks of rust.

Hall of Fame goalie and Devils exec Martin Brodeur, who backstopped Canada to gold in 2002 and watched from the bench in 2010, calls today's Canada-US showdown the ultimate day for the sport. The two-time Olympian admits he'll sweat more from his couch than he ever did in net, especially after dressing the family dog in a Team Canada jersey for semis luck. Brodeur's insider take underscores how this best-on-best battle reignites the NHL flame on the global stage after 12 long years.